Understanding surrogacy costs

While it’s easy to pin down the average cost of surrogacy, it’s actually fairly tricky to know beforehand exactly how much you’ll spend. That’s because surrogacy arrangements are all unique, and a plethora of variables will affect the bottom line. Even so, following some basic guidelines will almost certainly bring down your surrogacy cost.

First, talk to more than one fertility clinic. Working with a clinic that Circle has partnered with will give you access to a special, negotiated rate - but they’re all different, and offer a variety of programs. Finding the most competitive option with the right fertility services for you can create a significant cost savings. And of course, you’re not restricted to our partner organizations - we’ll support your journey in any fertility clinic you choose.

Second, consider the health insurance situation of your gestational surrogate or egg donor. If she isn’t already insured, the cost of buying an insurance policy to cover her surrogate pregnancy (along with non-covered medical expenses) could be significant.

Third, be flexible with your calendar. As in many parts of life, rushing tends to increase costs. Finding more affordable clinic and donor options can sometimes be a matter of time. If you’re prepared to be patient, your surrogacy cost may come down significantly.

In the American healthcare system, health insurance is crucial to covering the medical expenses associated with your surrogate pregnancy. The Circle team has deep expertise in navigating the (sometimes labyrinthine) world of health insurance, and can help assess and defend insurance policies and cases, so that all the costs of surrogacy are appropriately covered.

We’re diligent about screening for and accepting candidates whose maternity insurance that will fully cover a surrogate pregnancy. And when surrogates aren’t adequately covered, we can facilitate high-quality, surrogacy-specific insurance coverage under a policy that we developed in close cooperation with Lloyd’s of London. In other words, the Circle team will ensure that your entire surrogacy journey is financially stable and protected by top-tier health insurance.

Surrogate mothers can earn on average between $30,000-$45,000 base fees, plus additional benefits and compensation based on milestones during the surrogacy journey. In total, a surrogate mother an earn up to $60,000; experienced carriers will earn a little bit more.

The length of the process depends on several factors. We typically tell intended parents that they should plan on a year and a half from the time they sign on with our agency until they have a child, although it can be quicker or longer depending on the legal requirements involved and the course of the IVF treatment.

Starting your surrogacy journey begins with a complimentary consultation with our experienced team. You'll speak with an attorney as well as a process consultant. In this meeting you'll have an opportunity to share your story with us and why you're chosen surrogacy to grow your family, and we'll explain about our process and program offerings, and answer any questions you have.

Yes. Thanks to the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR), intended parents who are HIV+ are able to grow their families with surrogacy. Through a sperm washing technique and HIV testing, it is possible for HIV+ men to safely father a biological child of their own with no risk to the baby or surrogate. For more information about surrogacy for HIV+ intended parents, email [email protected].

Yes. We are members of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). We work closely with the LGBT Community Center in New York, Family Equality Council, Resolve New England, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), and Parents via Egg Donation (PVED). Our attorneys are active in the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Family Law’s Subcommittee on Assisted Reproduction Technology and are admitted to the Massachusetts, New York, and California State Bars.

To join our surrogate program, potential candidates have to pass a variety of stringent screening measures. First, they complete a donor application which includes a detailed questionnaire. Most of the information in this form is requested by our fertility clinic partners, but intended parents can also review it as part of our matching process.

If the potential donor seems like she’d be a good fit for our program, we pass her file on to a consulting IVF physician for medical screening. This specialist reviews her medical records in depth, paying close attention to any fertility and pregnancy details. Meanwhile, her health insurance situation is reviewed by our legal team, and (assuming all goes well up to this point), the potential surrogate is connected with a licensed clinical social worker. Over the course of an interview, this social work assesses the candidate’s interest in surrogacy, as well as her background, mental health, and social support network. Finally, if the potential surrogate (and her partner) pass a criminal background check and bankruptcy/judgment check, she’ll be cleared to join our program.